Carpet sweeper



Dec. 26, 1939. c. M. YOUART CARPET SWEEPER Filed Aug. 14, 1937 ATTORNEYS.

Patented Dec. 26, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CARPET SWEEPER- Yonart Application August 14, 1937, Serial No. 159,045 Claims. (01. -41) The object of my invention is to provide improved means by which the dust pans of carpet sweepers may be manipulated to dump the contents.

The accompanying drawing illustrates my invention:

Fig. 1 is an end elevation, in partial vertical section, of a sweeper in which my improved structure is incorporated;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section in a with that of Fig. 1; and

, Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical section in a plane at right angles to that of Fig. 2.

In the drawing Ill indicates the usual main casing of the sweeper to each end wall ll of which is secured a plate l2 carrying an outwardly projecting fixed stud l3. Pivoted upon studs l3 are the depending arms of theusual handle-bail M. The main casing is supported by the usual wheels l5 which drive the brush l6.

Pivotally supported within the casing, at H, I I, are the dust pans [1, H which are normally held in the closed positions, shown in Fig. 2, by the divergent arms of springs l8 (one at each end). Thus far the structure is common and well known.

Each spring I8, at its middle, is formed into an eye I8 into which is projected a pin l9 each carried by a depending arm of a yoke 2| the middle bar of which parallels the middle bar of the handle-bail I l. The pins l9 project through short vertical slots 22 formed through the end walls I I of the casing in the region of eyes l8.

Movement of the yoke 2| upwardly, to move pins l9 upwardly in slots 22, will move the springs I8 upwardly to cause the dust-pansizo swing on their pivots H to dump the contents of the pans.

If the slots 22 are left uncovered dust will be thrown by the brush into the slots and will there accumulate so as to block proper movement of pins 9 in the slots; As the slots 22 must be located very closely beneath the top of the casing, I provide a rotary cover plate 25 for each slot pivoted at 26 on the inner face of the end wall and provided with spaced fingers 25' and 25",

plane parallel finger 25' overlying the slot 22 above and engaging pin l9 and finger 25" underlying and engaging pin l9. Finger 25" is provided with a bent-back finger 25" which overlies the adja cent spring l8, finger 25" thus serving to retain the spring against accidental displacement from its engagement with pin I9.

The yoke 2| might pivot freely in the eyes l8 of springs 18 with the middle bar of the yoke normally lying upon the top of casing l0.

will automatically return to their I prefer, however, to providev yoke 2| with portions 30 which slidingly straddle or embrace the adjacent depending arms of the handle-bail I4, so that the yoke will partake of the swinging movements of the handle-bail and thus be at all times in convenient position for manipulation upwardly to cause dumping of the dust pans.

The springs l8 and the dust pans, as is usual in this type of construction, are so proporti ed that these parts normally tend to assume he positions shown in Fig. 2, so that, after manipulation of the yoke 2| upwardly and following release of said yoke, the pans, springs and yoke positions shown in Fig. 2.

A single connection between the dust pans and an external operating element 20 will produce an operative structure, but I prefer the balanced construction such as shown and described.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a sweeper, the combination of the main casing having a handle-bail pivoted thereon on a fixed axis through which downward pressure may be applied to the casing, dust pans pivotally mounted in the casing; and a yoke movable independently of the bail and having depending arms connected with said dust pans, a portion of said yoke closely paralleling a portion of the handle-bail whereby said portions may be simultaneously grasped for operation of the yoke.

2. In a sweeper, the combination of the main casing having a handle-bail pivoted thereon'on a fixed axis through which downward pressure may be applied to the casing, dust pans pivotally mounted in the casing, an inverted V-spring connecting said pans at each end, and a vertically movable yoke, the depending arms of which ill carry substantially horizontal pins having por- 'tions lying within the casing and pivotally associated with said springs, and a slidable connection between said hand1e-bail and yoke whereby the yoke will partake of the swinging movements of the handle-bail.

3. In a sweeper, the combination of the main casing having a handle-bail pivoted thereon on a fixed axis through which downward pressure may be applied to' the casing, vertical slots formed through the end walls of the casing in the regions of the pivots of said ball, dust pans pivotally mountedin the casing, an inverted V- spring connecting said pans at each end, a yoke vertically movable independently of the handle-'- bail and having depending arms which straddle the casing, and pins projecting inwardly through said slots and into engagement with said springs, a plate pivoted on the inner face of each end wall of the casing adjacent the slot, said plate having a portion overlying the adjacent slot when the pans are closed, said plate engaging the adjacent yoke pin to be swung thereby upon lateral movement of the pin in the slot.

4. In asweeper, the combination of the main casing having a handle bail pivoted thereon on a fixed axis through which downward pressure may be exertedon the casing and vertical slots formed through the end walls in the regions of the pivots of said bail, dust pans pivotally mounted in the casing, a vertically movable yoke the depending arms of which straddle the casing and have pins projecting inwardly through said slots, connections between said pins and pans whereby lateral movements of said pins in said slots are accompanied by movement of the pans on their pivots, and a slidable connection between said yoke and handle bail whereby the yoke will partake of the swinging movements of the handle ball.

5. In a sweeper, the combination of the main casing having vertical slots formed through its end walls, dust pans pivoted within the casing, a yoke the depending arms of which straddle the casing and have pins projecting through said slots into the interior of the casing, connections between said pins and the dust pans whereby lateral movement of the pins in the slots will be accompanied by swinging movement of the pans, and a plate pivoted adjacent the slot, said plate having a portion normally covering the slot adjacent the pin and the plate also engaging the pin so as to be swung thereby upon lateral movement of the pins in their slots.

CHARLES M. YOUART. 

